Creation Festival Creates Lifelong Memories for 18 South

Lifelong memories were created at the end of June when 18 South Youth Center was provided with an opportunity to send three mentors and six teens to Creation Festival Northeast at Agape Farm in Mt. Union, Pa.

This trip was made possible only by the kindness and generosity of Pleasant View Church in Red Lion, Pa. 18 South’s group joined their youth groups for a grand total of more than 60 individuals at our campsite. Pleasant View Church provided the transportation, tents, showers, food, and many other amenities at no cost to 18 South. Two teen admissions were generously sponsored by DOVE Community Church in Red Lion, with the remainder being paid for by PTC Youth’s Pampered Chef Fundraiser from this past January.

The group left early in the morning on Wednesday, June 26 and returned home in the afternoon on Sunday, June 29 to say our bittersweet goodbyes after five days of bonding.

Highlights from the trip included four of the six teens from 18 South responding to an altar call to commit their lives to Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit following a message from Tony Campolo; adventures moshing at the Fringe Stage; good times at the late night dance parties with Family Force 5; and strengthened relationships between the teens and the mentors.

18 South’s Creation experience culminated during the wee hours of Saturday night with a discussion around a campfire. 18 South had adopted a group of teens who also came along with Pleasant View Church but weren’t a regular part of their youth group, so three extra teens joined our group’s discussion. Our circle included nine teens confiding in each other and 18 South’s mentors about struggles with self harm, pornography, depression, parental abandonment, and sexual abuse. Each individual expressed how they found hope in the messages shared at Creation. The group was able to end a two-hour discussion with a prayer circle asking for freedom from the things that were oppressing them and then, of course, a group hug.

Thanks so much to everyone who made this trip possible. God surpassed PTC Youth’s wildest dreams with the way He moved and touched these teens.

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18 South Youth Ministries

18 South Youth Ministries strives to create opportunities for caring, responsible adults with Christian values to build authentic relationships with youth. The nonprofit operates 18 South Youth Center in Red Lion, Pa., which has reached more than 1,000 teens since it opened in November 2007.